Caption: "All the hempseed available in the U.S. is stacked
in this Kentucky warehouse under armed guard. Next year, USDA
hopes, there'll be enough to grow 350,000 acres." (Photo
credit: U.S.D.A. by Forsythe)

WAR DEMANDS MORE HEMP

Tall, tough "thin man" of the nettle family, hemp
is normally imported from the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies.
In peace time, it made a big share of the $192,000,000 worth of
fiber and fiber products America shipped in each year. Yet hemp
has been grown in Kentucky since 1775, has made money for a small
group of raisers in Wisconsin for the past few years. Experts
claim it is a 90-day crop, standing eight degrees of frost and
producing from four to six tons of stalks per acre on land good
for 35 to 60 bu. of corn. At current prices, it will bring about
$33 per ton.

Last month, hard put for rope, twine and a quick source of
cellulose, the Department of Agriculture announced a campaign
to produce enough hemp seed for general plantings in 1943. Seed
production will center in Kentucky, Wisconsin and California.
The Commodity Credit Corporation will pay $8 per bushel (44 lbs.,
cleaned basis). The aim is for 350,000 bu. of seed for 1943. Usual
seeding rate is one bushel to the acre.

Federal scientists state that 10,000 acres of hemp, maintained
year after year, will yield as much pulp as 40,500 acres of average
wood pulp land. The pulp for paper, the cellulose for rayon and
plastics are obtained from the "hurd" or woody refuse
of the hemp stalk, left after the fibers have been extracted.
These have a cellulose content of 77 to 88%, compared to the 50%
average of spruce and pine.

The fiber itself is similar to flax, and will produce silky,
white threads, coarse rope fiber, or "tow," according
to the curing and machining method used. Greatest trouble with
hemp production to date has been getting the fiber out.

From Milwaukee, simultaneously with the announcement of the
government's hemp program, came reports of a new decorticating
machine that produces more than 50% long-line (3-5 foot) fiber.
Arthur Eckstein, the inventor, claims that the machine is portable,
can be operated by one man, and will turn out approximately 400
lbs. of cleaned fiber a day. The company is also developing a
large machine for use in hemp processing mills.